Queens Club

madfan · Social player

Queens Club

Salmon · Tennis legend

Queen's and Pimm's are inseparable.

Queen's wants to portray this image, though - 33 pounds is a lot for Court 1 at a Tour event and there are many true tennis fans who can't spend that much.

madfan · Social player

Wish we had only paid £33!

My son who I took to the event and who is a keen tennis player has just said to me how "posh" it was yesterday. I dont know what the answer is but I just feel we are light years away from getting away from the Middle-Class image of tennis in this country.

DUSTY DICK · Club Coach

I noticed in Mid week on the TV how everyone was really dressed up. Many men in Shirt and tie. You do wonder whether they are the real hardcore tennis supporters or whether it is just a posh day out for some of them where they can get dressed up and sip their pimms. Not like me cheering the brits on yesterday at Nottingham in my jeans and trainers. You wouldn't catch me in the fancy tea tent say if one of ours was playing or someone else for that matter when you want to be supporting them. But, it does happen at other big tournaments. There were empty seats at Roland Garros and there will be at Wimbledon ads well when the 'posh folk' are away having their 3-course with champagne. It's always been the same and the organisers aren't going to turn down the money making chance. It will always be left more to those of us with our sandwiches from home and a bottle of pop and waving our flags to get behind the home players and be on the edge of our seats.

steven · Tennis legend

Michael on AM.com queued yesterday and got a Centre Court return in the south stand, which is where all the corporates sit (it was half-empty when I was sitting at the south end of the east stand on Monday for Wardy's match and was the main source of the "come on Safin *guffaw* *guffaw*" drunken noises during the match) and you might find his blog confirming your worst fears - see http://www.andymurray.com/forum/showthread.php?t=864

madfan · Social player

Enjoyed reading that - thaks for pointing it out to me. I think it is so sad having these non-tennis fans at Queens as it really does ruin the day for those who have paid their hard-earned money to watch a day of good matches. Not sure what the solution is - there probably isnt one. The Hoorays seem to have it better organised at Twickers as they have their champagne and picnic in the car park beforehand - and goodness knows what afterwards - but I do believe they actually manage to watch the whole of the rugby match in between their socialising.

I do think the worst thing about the Hoorays at Queens is the constant chatter about non-tennis matters and this need to come and go every few games or so

Salmon · Tennis legend

No wonder most people think grass tennis to be a joke.

One solution that could decrease the 'problem' is the banning of alcohol, but the club won't do that. Do you really need to drink all the time while watching the tennis?

-- Edited by Greenleaf at 16:13, 2008-06-15

john · Top national player

I don't think that's the solution Arks, banning things is never the way to go. I enjoy a pint during the day a few times while I'm watching the tennis if possible. Why can't I do that just because so many morons are there?

Proper tennis fans enjoy drinking too

Salmon · Tennis legend

Hmm, fair enough, I guess.

johnnylad · Tennis legend

What annoyed me was Sue Barker introducing the programme today saying we had the final we all wanted.

I was personally gunning for a Ward/Goodall or Murray/Goodall final.

It typifies the fact that even the BBC tennis coverage is geared towards people who think the tennis season is 3 weeks long and this is theur chance to see Nole and Rafa.

Don't get me wrong, what a Final!!!!!!!!

But only because for the last 5 or 6 years Queens and Wimbledon have slowed their courts down every year.

Ratty · County player

Do I detect a note of envy and anti-snobbery? What's wrong with looking smart and drinking Pimm's? Or living in Surrey?

You should try going to the US Open (which is great, by the way). The average "real fan" there has an attention span of about 20 minutes before wandering off (in mid-point, natch), talking on their mobile, pulling out another hamburger, etc.

At lunchtime (ie 11.30 - 3.00) there are far more people in the food court than watching the tennis. And if you've seen it on the TV, you'll have noticed that Ashe is usually 3/4 empty in the early rounds - even though the tournament is fully sold out every year. That's because most punters (those "real fans" again) buy season tickets and don't bother to come.

Last time I went to a footy match I was stunned by the disgusting behaviour of the "real fans" near me, primarily the full on swearing and abuse at the opposing players and the officials. Give me hooray henry's at Queens or Twickenham anyday.

Ratty · County player

And thank god they have slowed down the courts. Remember that horrific Karlovic v Roddick final a couple of years ago?

And those "classic" Goran/Krajicek/Sampras matches were just as bad.

johnnylad · Tennis legend

No Ratty. For once you're wrong.

Grass season is Fast court season. It's aces season. We have just had 6 months to watch the tennis we saw today. It's becoming a single surface tour...

madfan · Social player

Ratty, Im neither envious nor anti-snobbery but just feel there is a time and a place for these social activities and it is a shame to ruin other peoples day out watching a sport they adore by constantly getting up and down and chatting. I went to Queens last year and thought this behaviour was a one-off but having gone again yesterday I found it just as bad - if not, worse. I am interested to hear that it is the same at the USO- that slightly cheers me up as it means it is not just a British phenomenon. I am just glad I dont have a hard-grafting Junior trying to make it in the world of tennis because whatI saw yesterday convinced me what I have really known all along that the Brits are going nowhere in this sport. Sorry!!!

We tried to watch the Marcus Willis Final on BBCi today but, of course, it wasnt shown as it wasnt High Profile...what does that say to you?

I know there are a lot of mad people at football but I do think that a much larger percentage of those at matches are passionate about the sport than you find at events like Queens

Josh · Challenger level

When we went on Friday the noise coming from the corporate side was ridiculous. For the Murray doubles (aganist Butorac / Ram) I don't think they realised there was a match going on. About 4 or 5 times throughout the match the rest of the crowd were trying to shut them up, the umpire and officials didn't seem to care.

Yesterday, when the 'experts' in the studio were dicussing Tim commentating at Wimbledon, I heard Andrew Castle say I bet Tim will regret it when he has to stay to watch the first round of the mixed doubles on court 25 at 9 o'clock. Does he not realise that people pay a lot of money to watch these matches, and to many it isn't a chore like he seems to think so.